Upstate New York Natural Gas Driller Sues State, Town Over Fracking Ban

The state Department of Environmental Conservation may soon have to weigh in on a local gas-drilling ban after a Genesee County-based company filed suit against the agency.

Lenape Resources, a small natural gas company based in Alexander, sued both the DEC and the Livingston County town of Avon earlier this month, challenging the town’s recent ban on gas drilling and storage.

The company is seeking $50 million from the town, claiming the ban has cost Lenape millions in the form of lost business and unused mineral rights.

“It is my business,” said John Holko, Lenape’s president. “It’s all I do and what I’ve spent all the money for in the area, and I don’t have much of a choice but to take an action.”